Church and Reflection
Trip Start
Jun 19, 2009
1
8
17
Trip End
Jun 27, 2009
Haiti,
Ouest,
Haiti
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Rise and Shine! Compared to the past two days this is sleeping in, up at 6:00 AM! Just like at home, I head straight for the coffee. We bask in the warm sun on the porch till breakfast at 8:00. Typical rectory breakfast-bananas, corn flakes, boxed milk, and Laughing Cow cheese. I spread my cheese on a roll that is similar to a stale hot dog bun. Although it's easy to complain about the food, we must remember we truly eat like kings compared to the rest of the Haitians.
Church starts around 9:00. We dress up, long pants for the men, dresses for the ladies. We get the honor of sitting in the front row. Despite the poverty and conditions, everyone dresses very nicely
The church of St. Pierre
! The youth group arrives dressed in their uniforms. The choir is beautifully outfitted as well in blue shirts and black skirts. Being selected for the choir is an honor, most of the women are looked up to as role models in the community. Dr. Leo plans to train them as service workers (think informal social work). The singing is the highlight of the Mass as the voices are uplifting! Although the Mass is in French we are able to follow along well. It's beautiful and speaks to tradition that we are able to understand although we do not speak the language. After Mass, three people from the community get up and speak at length (and here we complain about a measly few announcements taking up our time). In total the service lasts over two hours. Afterwords we wander out into the community. We are a curiosity for sure. The atmosphere is joyous with almost a mini-festival feel. This is a day of worship and community fellowship.Half our group is going to get the bags of cement which is at the top of the mountain. Four of us girls decide to head up to the clinic. There is always something to say or do there! About a quarter of the way up the mountain we are roadblocked. A truck has run out of gas and is blocking the road. At a 40% grade they are rolling backwards, rock by rock. We gingerly tip-toe around praying to not be rolled over or have to jump off the side. I am no stunt double! I am glad I worked out quite a bit before I left, the huffing and puffing in 100% humidity is not too bad!
There is a second floor on the clinic. It's beautiful and provides much needed space. There are six malnourished children living there, several of them have the burrowing worms the cement floors will hopefully prevent
All dressed up!
! I am reunited with Kenya who was there two years prior. Although she is still somewhat malnourished she looks much healthier. Her sister, Berland, is staying there as well. It is just not possible for their mother to feed them. She hopes they will be adopted. During the waiting game of red tape the clinic staff takes care of them. Mary Ann and I take them on a walk outside. We come across a raucous rooster fight (the Haitian equivalent of Bingo) but are shooed away. We hitch a ride back down the mountain with the bags of cement. It is pig roast time!The pig roast is a way for us to thank all the Haitian people who help us during the week. Unfortnately the power is out so we are unable to boil water for side dishes, so pringles and crackers will have to do. They have so much fun, and gobble up the food we provide. It is such a small way to say thank you for all they do for us. The joy in their faces reminds me to be grateful for the little things in life. We then play simple games with the children like thumbwar, paper, scissors, rock, etc., etc.. Finally we end the night reflecting and playing the "three things" game within our own group. By now we all know everything about everyone else!
